anyone like rustic furniture?

[TrailBlaze]

My neighbour, Dawn King, who makes it and teaches classes, has put together a 2-week summer school this July.

I made this table in a one-day workshop with her:



and she made this one, from broken pottery shards:



here is a sample of the type of furniture and arbours she teaches you to make:



and where she lives:



So even if you can't make it here to take a workshop, it's worth it just to come visit this valley full of artisans. Makes a great day out!

My DH bought us this bench from her too:(my cat has claimed it)



I was asked to teach soapmaking, but teaching is not my strongpoint. Makes me too nervous.

There are other things offered too. Take a look at the website:

http://www.brookevalley.ca

[(old_user)earwig]

I love it, and I wish had the talent to put things together to look more rustic than that "waiting for the garbage truck" look.

If I lived closer I would sign up in a flash. I still try, and made two arbours this spring with a combination of treated posts and one with willow and the other with bamboo. For the third I am going to use grape vines.

I have started a collection of sticks that the beavers have very nicely peeled and are in various shapes and sizes. When I get enough I am going use a rustic bench I bought a few years ago as a pattern and see how I do.

Looking forward to seeing your creations.

[joan w]

I like this idea and I'm sure Betty will make use of it.

[butterfly]

I;d sign up too, I love the stuff

[murphy]

how did you do that in juswt one day. I cut the glass for a stone (never cast it) and it tooke me weeks to do...I would love to make a tagble out of it someday though.

[TrailBlaze]

In the morning, I smashed the tiles, placed them on the pre-cut plywood which teacher Dawn provided. Then I lifted each tile and glued it in place. In the afternoon, I built the table legs, with Dawn's assistance. Her classes are small, never more than 6 people, sometimes just 3, so she offers lots of help, and an extra pair of hands.

After the bottom is assembled and the glued tiles are dry, I smeared grout on everything. Within a half hour, I was rubbing it off, cleaning each tiny piece, finding surprises in the heavy grout.

Lunch is a sandwich, eaten in 20 minutes. It's steady work, on your feet, from 9AM until 5PM.

Remember too that rustic furniture can be slightly crooked and off-kilter, so one can work fast at it.

My DH cannot do this kind of thing, because he is a perfectionist, and makes fine furniture as a hobby. (electrical engineer turned computer analyst and programmer by profession, now semi-retired and still writing programs).
I bring home my crooked constructions and in a few days, he just HAS TO straighten the legs or make some adjustment. It's ok, 28 years married, one humours this sort of character 'flaw', hehe.

[TrailBlaze]

the very first table I made, I bought the unfinished table from Dawn, who assembled it herself. Here's what it looked like raw:



and with the smashed tiles glued into place:


and finished:



I do believe this one took me two days, as it was my first attempt. I only live 5 minutes down the road from Dawn, so I can go over any time to work in her workshop.

[Sheikea]

HEhehe I see why your pussycat claimed that chair.."points to the bird house on it"He is one smart pussytat.LOL.